VHP's congregation plan in Ayodhya foiled

The Uttar Pradesh police on Friday foiled the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's plans to hold a congregation as part of its Ram temple construction campaign after arresting the outfit's top leaders Ashok Singhal and Ram Vilas Vedanti and hundreds of activists thronging the temple town for the programme.

Karsevakpuram, the venue for Sankalp Sabha (assembly for taking a pledge), was deserted past noon, well beyond the scheduled time for holding the congregation with police barricading the area and arresting the devotees at various locations in the town.

As thousands of karsevaks trooped in through various points, including along the railway tracks, the police prevented them from reaching the venue of the planned assembly.